What is a Push in Sports Betting?

The world of online sportsbooks is filled with terminology that you might not have heard before. One question we hear a lot here at SportsBoom is ‘what does push mean in betting?’

Today, we’re going to explain exactly what a sports betting push is, as well as how it affects your wagering. We’ll also give you some tips on avoiding push gambling and how to change your wagers to get the most out of your experience.

Ready to get started? Let’s go! 

What is a Push in Betting?

A push in betting occurs when there's a tie between the bettor and the sportsbook, resulting in no winner or loser. Essentially, it happens when the outcome lands exactly on the spread or the total, meaning the point difference or the total points scored are precisely what the sportsbook predicted.

In such cases, your stake is refunded. For example, if you bet on a football game with a point spread of 3 and the game ends with exactly a 3-point difference, the bet is considered a push.

It's a common term in sports betting and can apply to various types of wagers, including point spreads, totals, and parlays.

Push vs. Tie 

While "push" and "tie" are often used interchangeably in betting, they have distinct meanings. The push bet meaning specifically refers to a bet where the outcome matches the sportsbook's line, resulting in a refund of the wager.

A tie, on the other hand, generally refers to the actual outcome of the game or event itself. For instance, if two teams finish a game with the same score, the game is tied.

However, in betting terms, this tie might not always result in a push, depending on the type of bet placed.

In some cases, particularly in moneyline bets, a tie might result in a loss or a win, depending on the specific rules of the bet.

Does a push count in a parlay?

A common question is ‘does a push lose a parlay?’ In short, no, a push in a parlay bet doesn't necessarily mean the whole parlay is lost. Instead, the leg of the parlay that resulted in a push is simply removed from the equation, and the parlay's odds are adjusted accordingly.

For example, if you have a 5-leg parlay and one leg results in a push, it becomes a 4-leg parlay.

This adjustment ensures that a push doesn't negatively impact your overall bet, allowing the remaining legs of the parlay to determine the outcome. However, if all legs of the parlay result in a push, the entire wager is refunded.

What does 3-way no push mean in NFL?

The term "3 way no push" in NFL betting refers to a market where a draw or tie is a potential outcome.

Unlike traditional two-way betting, which only accounts for a win or loss, three-way betting includes the possibility of a draw. In this scenario, if the game ends in a tie, bets placed on either team to win are lost.

This type of bet is common in football (soccer) but can also be applied to other sports, including NFL games, especially for specific markets such as halftime or quarter results.